Sidra Medicine’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a pivotal entity ensuring the ethical conduct of human subject research within the institution. It operates under the guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Qatar and adheres to international standards such as the Belmont Report and the International Conference on Harmonization Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) guidelines.
🔍 Overview of Sidra Medicine’s IRB
- Ethical Oversight: The IRB is responsible for reviewing all human subject research conducted at Sidra Medicine, regardless of funding source, to ensure the protection of participants’ rights, dignity, welfare, and privacy.
- Compliance: Sidra Medicine’s IRB policies and procedures align with MoPH’s regulations and international ethical standards, ensuring that research activities meet both local and global requirements.
- Review Authority: The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove research activities involving human subjects. This includes initial reviews, continuing reviews, and the assessment of any changes to approved research protocols.
- Informed Consent: A key aspect of the IRB’s function is to ensure that informed consent is obtained from all research participants or their legal guardians, with special considerations for vulnerable populations such as children.
📋 Submission and Approval Process
- Protocol Submission: Researchers must submit their study protocols, informed consent documents, and any other relevant materials to the IRB for review.
- Ethical Review: The IRB reviews submissions to assess the ethical implications, potential risks, and benefits to participants, ensuring that the study complies with ethical standards.
- Approval: Upon satisfactory review, the IRB grants approval for the study to proceed. Researchers must obtain this approval before initiating any research activities involving human subjects.
- Ongoing Oversight: The IRB conducts continuing reviews of approved studies, monitors compliance, and reviews any proposed changes to the research protocols.
📞 Contact Information
- IRB Registration: Sidra Medicine’s IRB is registered with the MoPH under the code IRB-SIDR-2020-009, with the current registration valid until September 10, 2027.
- IRB Chairperson: Dr. Ayman Saleh
- Contact Email: asaleh2@sidra.org
For more detailed information on the IRB’s policies, submission guidelines, and procedures, please visit Sidra Medicine’s Clinical Research page: Sidra Medicine Clinical Research.
If you require assistance with the IRB submission process or have specific questions about conducting research at Sidra Medicine, feel free to ask!
Dr. Ayman Saleh is a distinguished physician and researcher specializing in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation. He currently serves as the Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar. In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Saleh holds the position of Chairman of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Sidra Medicine, where he oversees the ethical conduct of clinical research within the institution.
With over three decades of experience in pediatric medicine, Dr. Saleh has held multiple leadership roles throughout his career. Prior to joining Sidra Medicine in 2017, he served as the Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology Oncology from 1998 to 2011 and as the Medical Director and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics from 2005 to 2007. His extensive experience includes chairing various committees such as the cancer care committee, credentialing committee, pediatric academic review committee, pediatric executive committee, standing committee of the board, and professional affairs committee.
Dr. Saleh is also an active researcher and has been a full member of the international Children’s Oncology Group (COG) since its inception in 2000. He has conducted numerous clinical trials and received multiple grants focusing on childhood cancer, hemophilia, hemoglobinopathies, and supportive care. His contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards, including the American Cancer Society Fellowship Award, Children’s Miracle Network Award, and the Hemophilia Grant Award funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S.
For more detailed information about Dr. Ayman Saleh’s professional background and contributions, you can visit his profile on Sidra Medicine’s official website: .